88R10400 GCB-D
By: Thierry H.B. No. 2868
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to providing mental health services and mental health
education to public school students at school-based health centers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 38.051(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A school district in this state may, if the district
identifies the need, design a model in accordance with this
subchapter for the delivery of cooperative health care programs for
students and their families and may compete for grants awarded
under this subchapter. The model may provide for the delivery of:
(1) conventional health services;
(2) mental health services; and
(3) disease prevention of emerging health threats that
are specific to the district.
SECTION 2. Section 38.058, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 38.058. HEALTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE ADVISORY
COUNCIL. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the
governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may establish
and appoint members to a local health education and health care
advisory council to make recommendations to the district or school
on the establishment of school-based health centers to provide
health care services, including mental health services, and to
assist the district or school in ensuring that local community
values are reflected in the operation of each center and in the
provision of health education and mental health education.
(b) A majority of the members of the council must be parents
of students enrolled in the school district or open-enrollment
charter school. In addition to the appointees who are parents of
students, the board of trustees or governing body shall also
appoint at least one person from each of the following groups:
(1) classroom teachers;
(2) school administrators;
(3) school counselors;
(4) health care professionals licensed or certified to
practice in this state;
(5) mental health care professionals licensed to
practice in this state;
(6) the clergy;
(7) [(6)] law enforcement;
(8) [(7)] the business community;
(9) [(8)] senior citizens; and
(10) [(9)] students.
SECTION 3. Section 38.063(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) All health care programs should be designed to meet the
following goals:
(1) reducing student absenteeism;
(2) increasing a student's ability to meet the
student's academic potential; and
(3) stabilizing the physical and mental well-being of
a student.
SECTION 4. The board of trustees of a school district or the
governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that has
established a local health education and health care advisory
council under Section 38.058, Education Code, shall appoint to the
council a mental health professional licensed in this state, as
required by the change in law made by this Act, as soon as
practicable and not later than January 1, 2024.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.